Rapid Response: Gay marriage and the Constitution - should Indiana put a ban to a vote?

Yes or no, should Indiana put a ban to a vote?

A wedding cake with statuettes of two men is seen during the demonstration in West Hollywood, California, May 15, 2008, after the decision by the California Supreme Court to effectively greenlight same-sex marriage. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)

Question: Hoosiers could be asked in 2013 or 2014 to vote on whether the state's ban on same-sex marriages should be included in the Indiana Constitution. First the General Assembly would need to approve the ballot measure during its 2013 or 2014 sessions. Do you favor the ban, and what do you think the General Assembly should do?

? Reason, not dogma, should prevail. In 50 to 100 years, gay marriage will be legal in all 50 states. Let's get on with it already.

Sarah Snoeberger

Lafayette

? I strongly support limiting marriage to being between a man and a woman and hope the General Assembly approves this ban and submits it to the voters as quickly as possible.

Bert Chapman

Lafayette

? Why stop there? We should also ban marriages after two divorces, make adultery a crime and stop 80-something millionaires from marrying 20-something beauties. These changes would do more to protect traditional marriage than stopping two loving people that are simply asking for the same legal benefits that most of us take for granted.

Tim Delworth

West Lafayette

? I do not support the constitutional amendment, and I cannot believe that any fair-minded voter in the state of Indiana would vote to insert discrimination into the Indiana Constitution.

Gale Charlotte

West Lafayette

? I could never imagine someone, first, judging me other than God and, second, telling me that I couldn't marry someone that I love.

Staci Cain

Lafayette

? I do not favor the ban. I do not think Indiana should codify discrimination in its Constitution. The General Assembly should drop this religiously inspired goal.

Noemi Ybarra

Lafayette

? I do favor the ban, and it should be included in the state Constitution. Both our nation and our state were founded on God's principles. We must not reject God simply because other states have chosen to do so.

Tom Haynie

Buffalo

? I do not support a constitutional ban. The committed same-sex couples whom I know are not much different from heterosexual ones - hardworking, law-abiding citizens. Many are involved in religious, charitable and community activities. The historic religious term "marriage" evokes understandably strong feelings. The General Assembly should resist poking a hornet's nest in favor of more productive activity.

Claire Brigham

West Lafayette

? Yes, I favor the ban. Either leave the law alone or put it in the Indiana Constitution, but absolutely do not overturn the law.

Thomas W. Anderson

Lafayette

? I say we should have put it up for vote during the national election, then let the people decide and be done with it.

Mark Acles

Lafayette

? A constitutional ban to limit rights or freedoms states a sad commentary upon the character of Hoosiers.

Furman A. Powell

Lafayette

? I do not favor the ban. I do not favor changing the Constitution for what amounts to legalizing bullying. We can't raise our kids to have respect if we can't show it as adults.

Mike Dudgeon

Lafayette

? I feel the point will be moot if the Supreme Court rules in favor of the lower court ruling in California on its gay marriage ban. I believe being gay is a lifestyle choice and should afford you no special treatment or consideration. Live together if you want, but don't call it marriage.

Dennis Donoho

Sedalia

? I was expecting book- and witch-burning first.

David B. Dobbin

West Lafayette

? Who gave the state the right to determine what a marriage is? Who gave any man the right to determine what a marriage is?

Kurt Fiech

Lafayette

? Such an amendment would be contrary to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all Hoosiers. I think the General Assembly should focus on real problems like the state's finances and the looming environmental crisis we all face.

Jason Dufair

West Lafayette

? If two adults love, honor and commit to one another, how can that be anything but good for society? How does anyone else's happiness detract from mine? Remember, it used to be illegal for blacks and whites to marry (not that long ago). We can outgrow our prejudices.

Brian Primeau

Lafayette

? Indiana, do you really want to be known as the last state to enshrine discrimination in the state Constitution, just as the rest of the country is moving into the future?

Randy Studt

Lafayette

? We don't vote on rights in this country, because we have a Constitution that is supposed to protect them. Don't demean the state of Indiana with this bigotry.

Gordon Clark

West Lafayette

? I approve of the ban, and the General Assembly should approve the ballot measure.

Steven Priest

Lafayette

? Oh, absolutely. We have full employment, zero crime, our schools are No. 1. Let's turn our attention to the true purpose of government: defining and proscribing people's relationship activity. The worst problem facing us today involves people who love each other and want the responsibilities and benefits of marriage. Shudder!

Rick Mummey

Lafayette

? "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" - Thomas Jefferson. Why can't our lawmakers leave honest, hardworking people alone?

Jess Washburn

Lafayette

? I strongly favor marriage between men and women only.

Jack Lahrman

rural Tippecanoe County

? Yes, I think it should be on the ballot. The voters should decide.

Jean Wichterman

Lafayette

? I do not favor the ban. The General Assembly should stay out of taking away civil rights.

Linda Swihart

West Lafayette

? I will be terribly disappointed in my state's legislature if they proceed with this discriminatory amendment. Those who feel same-sex marriage threatens traditional marriage should instead funnel their efforts into cultivating their own marriages rather than involving themselves in others, especially since these traditional marriages have a 50 percent divorce rate.

Jerri Parks

Lafayette

? Writing a same-sex marriage ban into the Constitution sends an unmistakable message that if you're gay or lesbian, you're at best a second-class citizen, and at worst, you're not welcome here. Regardless of your beliefs about homosexuality, it is a historic mistake to write discrimination into a constitution - i.e. miscegenation laws.

Frank Arnold

Lafayette

? It is ridiculous to attempt to enshrine discrimination into the Indiana Constitution which is contrary to its own provision for equal protection of all. Indiana already has a law to define marriage. This amendment is just a waste of time and a smokescreen to hide the legislature's inaction on topics of real practical importance.

Jerry Hirschinger

West Lafayette

? The ban is ludicrous and we should be embarrassed our state is even considering moving south of the Mason-Dixon Line philosophically. The General Assembly should be working on needs of the people and quit pandering to the religious right.

Bud Wang

Shadeland

? I think the General Assembly should stay out of people's bedrooms. It is a sick irony that the "no government" types exhibit such an intense interest in what other people do with their private parts. Our Indiana politicians seem keen to legislate us into the backwards Deep South.

Brian Capouch

Monon

? Why do some people think it's their business what two adults do in their own bedroom? As long as they pay the marriage penalty tax like any other couple, then liberty, freedom and equality still rule.

Edward Priest

Battle Ground

? As a Christian and a law-abiding person, I favor the ban. Marriage is between one man and one woman. This is what our law states. If we want to bring the wrath of God down on our state, all we have to do is change it. Liberals and the ACLU have set out to change our laws and ruin our country. By the way, shall I wish everyone a Merry Christmas? I doubt you will print this, as the Journal & Courier is so far to the left.

Carolyn Foust

Lafayette

? I cannot believe that elected officials of Indiana are considering passing a constitutional amendment that allows a "government entity," i.e. themselves, to decide who can (legally) love who. If you are just like "us," if you believe in "our" God, then we will grant you freedoms, benefits and of course our approval; we will even grant you equality under the law. There was a time when a lot of people throughout the world looked up to you Americans. You use to be considered the last great hope for freedoms and people's rights, "unalienable rights" I believed you called them. The world shook it's head at "the dark ages" for things the church did to other human beings in the name of "their morality." The world was appalled by the pictures they saw of places like Auschwitz, where unspeakable things occurred to others simply because they were "different." What's next, separate schools for their children?

Jim Derringer

Lafayette

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Rapid Response: Gay marriage and the Constitution - should Indiana put a ban to a vote?

Question: Hoosiers could be asked in 2013 or 2014 to vote on whether the state's ban on same-sex marriages should be included in the Indiana Constitution.